Research Program Manager – Academic Research Programs

Overview We are seeking an organized and analytical Research Program Manager to support the execution and growth of large-scale academic research initiatives. This role partners with internal business leaders, scientists, product teams, legal, marketing, and external researchers to coordinate research programs from proposal through completion.

The ideal candidate has experience managing cross-functional programs, organizing complex datasets, driving process improvements, and communicating effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys combining program management, business analytics, and operational excellence to support innovative research initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end delivery of multiple research programs, ensuring milestones, timelines, and deliverables are completed successfully.
• Coordinate research proposal and grant management processes, including calls for proposals, award tracking, and stakeholder communications.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between internal teams and external researchers, ensuring timely communication and project execution.
• Coordinate operational workflows including payments, legal agreements, documentation, and project tracking.
• Organize and manage research data, proposals, and project documentation to support new research initiatives and repository development.
• Support the implementation and ongoing enhancement of a CRM platform for proposal and research program management.
• Develop reports, dashboards, and metrics to measure program health, progress, and research outcomes.
• Collect, organize, and communicate research insights and results to leadership and stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to improve research operations, streamline workflows, and increase program efficiency.
• Assist with academic outreach initiatives and support collaboration with research partners.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Business Analytics, Engineering, Program Management, Product Management, or a related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in program management, project management, business operations, business analytics, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience managing cross-functional projects from planning through execution.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience creating project plans, roadmaps, schedules, and status reporting for stakeholders and leadership.
• Strong analytical skills with experience organizing data, reporting metrics, and supporting business decision-making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience working across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Experience driving process improvements and operational efficiencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting research, academic, grant, nonprofit, or scientific programs.
• Experience with CRM systems, proposal management platforms, or research databases.
• Experience building dashboards, reports, or business analytics solutions.
• Experience coordinating external partners, researchers, or academic institutions.
• Familiarity with project management tools and workflow management platforms.

Top Skills

• Program & Project Management – Experience managing cross-functional initiatives from planning through delivery while balancing timelines, priorities, and stakeholder expectations.
• Business Analytics & Data Management – Ability to organize large datasets, develop reports and dashboards, track metrics, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Cross-Functional Communication & Process Improvement – Strong communication skills with the ability to coordinate internal teams and external partners while continuously improving operational processes.

Success Profile Successful candidates are highly organized, analytical, and proactive problem-solvers who can independently manage multiple research initiatives in a fast-paced environment. They excel at coordinating diverse stakeholders, maintaining high-quality program execution, and using data to improve operational effectiveness. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, collaborative, and passionate about supporting innovative research through strong program management and continuous process improvement.